Alzheimer’s link to herpes virus in brain, say scientists
(Hannah Devlin/ The Guardian) — The presence of viruses in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease in research that challenges conventional theories about the onset of dementia.
The results, based on tests of brain tissue from nearly 1,000 people, found that two strains of herpes virus were far more abundant in the brains …
Marriage tied to lower risk of fatal heart attack and stroke
(Thomson Reuters) – Married people may be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease or die from a heart attack or stroke than individuals who aren’t, a research review suggests.
Researchers examined data from 34 previous studies involving more than two million people. Overall, they found that adults who were divorced, …
Canada to severely restrict the way drug companies market opioids to doctors
(Canadian Press) — Nearly 4,000 Canadians died from apparent opioid overdoses last year, with men the most likely victims and fentanyl the clear culprit, new government figures show.
The numbers released Tuesday came as the federal government announced plans to severely restrict the way drug companies market opioids to doctors. …
Early risers have lower risk of depression, study finds
(Maria Cohut/ Medical News Today) — Do sleep-wake preferences influence our risk of depression? A new study confirms that they do, and “morning people” are on the winning side.
People’s chronotypes — that is, their sleep and waking preferences — could affect their well-being, studies have shown.
Whether …
Human brain hard-wired to love fat-carb combo: study
(Denis Thompson/ HealthDay News) — Fast food and processed foods trigger deep-seated instincts in the human brain that likely promote overeating, a new study suggests.
These modern foods, high in both fat and carbohydrates, produce a higher “reward” signal than foods containing either mostly fat or mostly carbs, …
Protein-packed and rich in fibre, researchers have found another reason to eat lentils
(Laura Brehaut/ The Province) — They’re high in fibre, full of complex carbohydrates and 25 per cent protein. As a pantry staple, they’re inexpensive and versatile. And new research out of the University of Guelph has found yet another compelling reason to eat lentils: they can significantly lower blood sugar levels.
In a study …
Slightly higher blood pressure increases dementia risk
(Aine Fox/ The Independent) — Fifty-year-olds with slightly raised blood pressure are at an increased risk of getting dementia in later life, a new study has suggested.
Study participants had a greater risk even if they did not have other heart-related problems, the research published in the European Heart Journal said.
The …
Men with erectile dysfunction are twice as likely to have heart disease, study says
(Alice Park/ Time) — By now, most people are familiar with the factors that can increase the risk of having a heart attack: gaining too much weight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, smoking and not exercising enough.
In a study published Monday in the journal Circulation, researchers say they have documented …
Overweight people can live longer too
(Edgar Gärtner/ European Scientist) — If you are middle-aged and overweight, you can still be fit, if you ensure your do four hours of exercise daily and/or exercise regularly. This emerges from research carried out by Dr. Klodian Dhana at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam in a study of 5,300 subjects aged 55 and …